Harry Redknapp expects to complete the signing of Rio Ferdinand this week and hopes the capture of the former Manchester United defender persuades Steven Caulker to follow suit.

Ferdinand is back in the country after spending the last few weeks working in Brazil as a World Cup pundit for the BBC and held a face-to-face meeting with Redknapp in London last night.

The 35-year-old centre-back has agreed a one-year contract at Loftus Road and official confirmation of the move should be announced in the next few days.

Meeting: Rio Ferdinand spoke to Harry Redknapp on Tuesday night

But Redknapp’s defensive recruitment doesn’t stop at Ferdinand.

The R’s manager also waiting on a decision from Cardiff City’s Caulker, who is also weighing up an offer from Crystal Palace, after having an £8million bid accepted for the England international earlier this month.

Palace were understood to be leading the race for the 22-year-old but Redknapp has not given up hope of wrapping up a deal and reckons Caulker should look at what Gary Cahill has achieved at nearby Chelsea to see how he could develop alongside Ferdinand.

Pairing: John Terry celebrates with Gary Cahill

“Hopefully we can move things along with Caulker and we can have talks later this week,” Redknapp told the Telegrpah.

“The prospect of playing with Rio Ferdinand in the centre of defence is something that will appeal to the lad. He’s a young player and he can only improve playing alongside somebody as experienced as Rio.

“If you look at Gary Cahill he has improved massively playing with John Terry and I believe Rio can do the same for Caulker. That’s a deal we would really like to get done.”

Decision to make: Steven Caulker must choose between QPR and Crystal Palace

Redknapp is hoping to complete both moves before the weekend, with Arsenal and Southampton said to be monitoring how the Caulker situation pans out.

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